Jar closure



E. PYOTT JAR CLOSURE March 20, 1934.

Filed May 26, 1933 1N VENTOR.

Patented Mar. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES PATET OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to jar closures and more particularly aims to provide a jar closure in the nature of a clamp-type closure cap especially H adapted for use with a conventional jar of the Mason type, which is conventionally equipped with a screw cap.

Conventional Mason jars include necks provided with integrally formed surrounding ledges and screw threads, and are intended to be closed by screw caps. It has been found that screw caps are not as satisfactory for closure purposes as might be desired, and by the present invention I propose to substitute for such screw caps, clamp type caps, and I aim to provide clamp type caps particularly adapted for use with such Mason ars.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the clamp type closure cap is provided with p clamps of such a nature that they will act-as handles for the closure cap itself, thus minimizing the danger of the housewife or packer burning her fingers as she applies caps to Mason jars.

Specific objects of the invention will presently appear to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following detailed description of an embodiment which is illustrated in the appended drawing. In this drawing:

Fig. 1 shows in top plan view a Mason jar equipped with a clamp type cap of the invention, the clamps being illustrated in clamping position;

Fig. 2 is a cross section of the cap edge and an adjacent portion of the neck of the jar;

Fig. 3 is a partial elevational view of a Mason jar equippedwith a closure cap of the invention, the clamps being shown in open or non-clamping position;

Fig. 4 is a similar view, the clamps, however, being shown in clamping position, as in Fig. 1. For an understanding of the drawing, reference is had to the following detailed description of the parts therein shown, reference numerals being used to denote parts thereof, like figures referring to like parts.

A conventional Mason jar is made of glass and includes a cylindrical body portion provided with a rounded shoulder 11 and terminating in a neck 12. The neck is open at its upper end and on its outer surface is formed to provide an integral screw thread 14 and a ledge 15, the screw thread cooperating with similar threads in a screw type cap to secure the cap with respect to the jar', and the ledge 15 serving as a seat for a rubber gasket (not shown) against which the lower edge of the screw cap bears in sealingrelation. I

For many reasons screw caps are not considered desirable, and the invention proposes to provide for a conventional Mason jar, without a1- teration of the jar itself, aclamp type closure cap which can be readily and efficiently used. Such a closure cap, referenced in general by the numeral 20, and made of glass, is shownin the drawing and, as shown, comprises a plate like portion 21 having an inset depending cylindrical flange 22, the latter cooperating with the inner surface of the upper edge of the neck 12, to align and guide the cap with respect to such neck. A rubber ring or gasket 24, snapped aroundthe fiange 22, is adapted to seal the edge of the cap to the upper edgeof the neck 12.

The plate like portion 20 on its upper surface is reinforced by upper and lower central thickened portions 25 and by apair of raised, diametri cal cross ribs 26, these crossing each other and. merging at the center. Through one of the cross ribs, near the ends thereof, are holes 28 which provide bearings for the pivotes of wire clamps which will now be described. The ends of the cross rib, provided with holes 28, may also be regarded as integral raised portions, the remainder of the rib being considered as a connection between the end portions of the rib.

Each clamp includes a U-shaped wire bell crank 30, each end of the U being looped at 31, at the elbow of the crank, to provide a pivot and inwardly bent to provide ends 32 which are disposed in a hole 28. Passed through the holesin loops 31 are the ends 34 of a generally U -shaped, Wire depending element 35, bent for clearance sake at 36, and having its bight curved to define ahookat3'7.

When the assembly of the clamps with respect to the cap 20 is to be eifected, the preassembled clamps, including their bell cranks 30 and their depending elements 35, may be joined to the cap merely by snapping the ends 32 of the bell cranks into the bearing holes 28, the ends being proin portioned to fill the holes 28 substantially, all 1:00 as indicated in Fig. 1 particularly. After a cap has been equipped with its clamps, it, together with its clamps, may be sold as a complete article of manufacture for use by housewives and packers to replace conventional Mason jar screw caps.

A cap of the invention may be utilized as follows to seal a Mason jar. After the jar is filled, and when it is to be closed, cap 20 is taken from the boiling water in which it is generally disposed 1m before it is applied to a jar, the housewife or packer holding the cap not by grasping the glass parts of the cap with her fingers, but by holding the free ends of the cranks 30, these ends, being of metal, cooling much more rapidly than will the glass of the cap, and accordingly not burning the fingers of the housewife or packer as readily as would be the case if she were to grasp the glass of the cap 20.

Without touching the jar, which is still within or may just have been taken out of boiling water, the housewife or packer may place the cap on the open end of the jar. The cap automatically seats itself in place, and the hooked ends 3'7 of the depending elements of the clamps dispose themselves under diametrically opposed portions of the ledge 15, substantially as indicated in Fig. 3. The free ends of the bell cranks may now be pressed downwardly and inwardly, towards each other, and the center of the cap, until they engage the upper surface of the cap, namely, the upper surfaces of the cross ribs 26, this action automatically pulling the depending elements 35 inwardly and upwardly to snap the clamps in place. Due to the over-center action inherent to the'construction of the clamps, the clamps, once moved to their clamping position, Fig. 4, will automatically and securely clamp the cap to the jar, in opposition to the resiliency of the rubber sealing gasket 24.

From the foregoing, it is seen that there has been provided by the invention a clamp type closure cap. particularly designed for use with conventional Mason jars, and requiring no alteration of the jars themselves, the closure clamps being so constructed that the clamps thereof will function efficiently as handles so that facile application of the caps to Mason jars is made possible.

- It is observed that the clamp type closure here shown possesses all of the advantages inherent to and well known for clamp type closures, and

statutes made and provided in such cases and not for the purpose of defining'the invention, reference is had to the appended claims which detemiine the scope of the invention.

I claim: 1. For use with a jar, such as a conventional jar of the Mason type, the same having a neck provided with a surrounding ledge, a closure cap including a plate provided with diametrically opposed, integral, raised portions,'and handleforming clamps therefor, each clamp including a bell-crank pivotally connected to said raised portion, and a depending element pivotally connected to the elbow part of said crank and having ,a hooked free end for engaging against the under surface of the ledge, as the free end of the crank is moved towards the center of the cap.

2. For use with a jar, such as a conventional jar of the Mason type, the same having a neck provided with a surrounding ledge, a closure cap including a plate provided with a diametrical crossrib, and handle-forming clamps therefor, each clamp including a bell crank pivotally connected to an end of said rib, and a depending element pivotally connected to the elbow part of said crank and having a hooked free end for engaging against the under surface of the ledge,'as the free end of the crank is moved towards the center of the cap.

3. For use with a jar, such as a conventional jar of the Mason type, the same having a neck provided with a surrounding ledge, a closure cap including a plate provided with diametrically opposed, integral, raised portions and handle-forming clamps therefor, each clamp including a U- shaped wire bell-crank having an end pivotally connected to said raised portion, and a U- shaped wire depending element pivotally connected to the elbow part of said crank and having a hooked free end or bight for engaging against the under surface of the ledge, as the free end or bight of the crank is moved towards the center of the cap.

4. For use with a jar, such as a conventional jar of the Mason type, the same having aneck provided with a surrounding ledge, a closure cap including a plate provided with a diametrical cross-rib, and handle-forming clamps therefor, each clamp including a bell crank having an end pivotally connected to an end of said rib, and a U-shaped wire depending element pivotally connected to the elbow part of said crank and having a hooked free end or bight for engaging against the under surface of the ledge, as the free end or bight of the crank is moved towards the center of the cap.

5, For use with a jar, such as a conventional jar of the Mason type, the same having a neck provided with a surrounding ledge, a closure cap provided with a handle forming clamp including a bell crank pivotally connectedto an outer part of said cap, and a depending element pivotally connected to the elbow part of said crank and having'a hooked free end for engaging against the under surface of the ledge, as the free end of the crank is moved towards the center of the cap.

6. For use with a jar, such as a conventional jar of the Mason type, the same having a neck provided with a surrounding ledge, a closure cap provided with a handle forming clamp including a U-shaped wire bell crank pivotally connected to an outer part of said cap, and a U shapedwire depending element pivotally connected to the elbow part of said crank and having a hooked free end or bight for engaging against the under surface of the ledge, as the free end or bight of the crank is moved towards the center of the cap.

ELIZABETH PYOTT. 

